Ararat Province
Ararat
Արարատ | |
---|---|
UTC+04) | |
Postal code | 0601-0823 |
ISO 3166 code | AM.AR |
FIPS 10-4 | AM02 |
HDI (2017) | 0.728[4] high · 8th |
Website | Official website |
Ararat (
.The province is named after the biblical
Two former capitals of Armenia are located in the modern-day Ararat Province, Artaxata and Dvin. It is also home to the Khor Virap monastery, significant as the place of Gregory the Illuminator's 13-year imprisonment and the closest point to Mount Ararat within Armenian borders.
Etymology
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Culture |
History |
Demographics |
Administrative divisions |
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Ararat Province is named after the historic Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.
According to
It is believed that the name Ararat is the Armenian equivalent of the toponym Urartu.[5][6]
Geography
Ararat has an area of 2,090 km2 (7% of total area of Armenia). It occupies the east of the central part of modern-day Armenia. From the north, it has borders with Armavir Province, Yerevan and Kotayk Province. From the east, its bordered by Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor. Iğdır Province of Turkey and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic respectively form the western and southern borders of the province.
Historically, the current territory of the province mainly occupies the Vostan Hayots canton of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.
The province is located at the southeast of the
The highest point of Ararat province is the Spitakasar peak of Gegham mountains with a height of 3560 meters. The lowest point is 801 meters at the Araks valley. Araks,
The cliffy terrain of
History
The region of modern-day Ararat Province is among the earliest locations that was settled by the people of the
After the fall of the Armenian Kingdom in 428, the region became part of the
At the end of the 9th century, the 3 cantons became part of the newly established
With the fall of the Russian Empire and as a result of the decisive Armenian victories over the Turks in the battles of Sardarabad, Abaran, and Gharakilisa, the region became part of the independent Armenia in May 1918, however, its western reaches remained occupied by the Ottoman Empire (by virtue of the Treaty of Batum) until the latter's withdrawal in late 1918. In July 1919, lasting until mid-1920, the Azerbaijanis-inhabited regions of Ararat, Vedibasar and Zangibasar, revolted against the Armenian government as part of the Muslim uprisings in Kars and Sharur–Nakhichevan.[8]
After 2 years of brief independence, Armenia became part of the
Demographics
Population
According to the
According to the 2011 official census, Ararat has a population of 260,367 (74,103 men and 133,146 women), forming around 8.6% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 74,103 (28.46%) and the rural is 186,264 (71.54%). The province has 4 urban and 93 rural communities. The largest urban community is the provincial centre of Artashat, with a population of 22,269. The other urban centres are Ararat, Masis and Vedi.
With a population of 8,376, the village of Ayntap is the largest rural municipality of Ararat.
Ethnic groups and religion
The majority of the Ararat Province population are ethnic Armenians who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The regulating body of the church is the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, headed by Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan (seat in Yerevan).
However, the village of Verin Dvin is predominantly populated by Assyrians belonging to the Assyrian Church of the East, whose ancestors migrated to Armenia from Iran during the 1st half of the 19th century. Almost half of the population of the village of Dimitrov is also Assyrian. The provincial centre Artashat is also home to a small Assyrian community. The approximate number of the Assyrians in Ararat Province is around 2,500.
Administrative divisions
This section needs to be updated.(February 2023) |
Ararat is currently divided into 95 municipal communities (hamaynkner), of which 4 are urban and 91 are rural:[13][14]
Municipality | Type | Area (km2) | Population (2017 est.) |
Centre | Included villages |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ararat Municipality | Urban | 6 | 20,300 | Ararat | |
Artashat Municipality | Urban | 12 | 20,700 | Artashat | |
Masis Municipality | Urban | 6 | 20,500 | Masis | |
Vedi Municipality | Urban | 5.5 | 11,600 | Vedi |
Rural communities and included settlements:
- Abovyan
- Araksavan
- Aralez
- Ararat
- Arbat
- Arevabuyr
- Argavand
- Arevshat
- Armash
- Avshar
- Aygepat
- Aygestan
- Aygavan
- Aygezard
- Ayntap
- Azatashen
- Azatavan
- Baghramyan
- Bardzrashen
- Berdik
- Berkanush
- Burastan
- Byuravan
- Dalar
- Darakert
- Darbnik
- Dashtakar
- Dashtavan
- Deghdzut
- Dimitrov
- Ditak
- Dvin
- Geghanist
- Getapnya
- Getazat
- Ghukasavan
- Ginevet
- Goravan
- Hayanist
- Hnaberd
- Hovtashat
- Hovtashen
- Jrahovit
- Jrashen
- Kaghtsrashen
- Kanachut
- Khachpar
- Lanjar
- Lanjazat
- Lusarat
- Lusashogh
- Marmarashen
- Masis
- Mkhchyan
- Mrganush
- Mrgavan
- Mrgavet
- Narek
- Nizami
- Nor Kharberd
- Nor Kyank
- Nor Kyurin
- Nor Ughi
- Norabats
- Noramarg
- Norashen
- Noyakert
- Nshavan
- Paruyr Sevak
- Tigranashen
- Pokr Vedi
- Ranchpar
- Sayat-Nova
- Shahumyan
- Sipanik
- Sis
- Sisavan
- Surenavan
- Taperakan
- Urtsadzor
- Urtsalanj
- Vanashen
- Vardashat
- Vardashen
- Verin Artashat
- Verin Dvin
- Vosketap
- Vostan
- Yeghegnavan
- Yeraskh
- Zangakatun
- Zorak
During the recent years, many rural settlements in Ararat became abandoned, including the village of Kakavaberd.
Culture
There are cultural palaces as well as public libraries in the towns of Ararat, Artashat, Masis and Vedi. The provincial centre Artashat is also home to the Amo Kharazyan drama theatre.
The province has many art academies, sport schools and musical schools, mainly in the urban settlements.
The House-museum of Vazgen Sargsyan is operating in the village of Ararat since 2001.
Fortresses and archaeological sites
- Ancient Artashat archaeological site,
- Ancient Dvin archaeological site,
- Kakavaberd fortress of the 4th century,
- Tapi Fortress of the 10th century,
- Mausoleum of Kara Koyunlu emirs in Argavand, built in 1413.
Churches and monasteries
- Aghjots Vank monastery of the 13th century,
- Hovhannes Karapaet Monastery near Shaghap, from the 13th century,
- Khor Virap monastery of the 17th century.
Transportation
The M-2 Motorway that connects the capital Yerevan with southern Armenia and the Iranian border, passes through the Ararat Province.
The towns of Artashat and Ararat used to have a railway station that connected Yerevan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic during the Soviet years.
Economy
Agriculture and viticulture
Being located at the fertile
Orchards mainly produce grapes, apricot and peach. Other products include pear, apple, melon, watermelon, eggplant, grains and dry seed. Ararat is among the leading provinces of Armenia in wine production in terms of grape cultivation and wine export (along with the provinces of Ararat and Vayots Dzor).
The irrigation infrastructure of the province is quite developed. 90% of the farmlands are irrigated, mainly using canals opened from the rivers of Vedi and
The Geghanist village has a specialized plant in producing fertilizers and irrigation system design.
The province has 2 large poultry farms in the village of Kaghtsrashen and the town of Masis.
Recently, fish farming has significantly developed in the province. The largest fish farming ponds are located at the vicinity of Armash village.
Industry
Ararat is among the most industrialized provinces of Armenia with many large industrial firms. It currently has a contribution of 10% in the annual total industrial product of Armenia.
- Production of alcoholic drinks is among the leading sectors in Ararat with a large number of factories spread all over the communities of the province. Major producers of the province include:
- Aregak Brandy Factory, founded in 1889 in Dalar (privatized in 1992).
- Ararat Wine Factory, founded in 1903 in Ararat village.
- Artashat Vincon Winery, founded in 1905 in Mkhchyan (privatized in 1995).
- Ararat Cognac Factory AKZ for brandy and wine, opened in 1932 in Avshar.
- Aygezard Wine Factory, founded in 1936 in Aygepat.
- Vedi Alco Winery for wine, brandy and vodka, founded in 1956 in Ginevet (privatized in 1994).
- Avshar Wine Factory for wine, brandy and vodka, founded in 1968 in Avshar (privatized in 1995).
- Yeraskh Wine Factory, founded in 1970 in Yeraskh.
- Van 777 Winery for wine and brandy, founded in 1992 in Taperakan.
- Agatat-Gold Winery for wine, brandy and vodka, founded in 2007 in Nor Kyurin.
- Shato Arno Winery for wine and brandy, founded in 2002 in Ayntap.
- Tavinko Winery for wine and brandy, founded in 2006 in Taperakan.
- Mrganush Brandy Factory for vodka and brandy, opened in 2002 in Mrganush
- Shaumyan-Vin Winery (wine, brandy, vodka), opened in 2006 in Shahumyan.
- Shaumyan Alco for brandy and vodka, opened in 2007 in Artashat.
- Abrikon Distillery for apricot vodka, opened in 2010 in Ararat village.
- "Proshyan Brandy Factory-Aygestan Branch", in Aygestan.
- Preserved food production is also developed in the province. The "Artfood" Artashat Cannery (since 1961), the "Araratyan LLC" for dairy products in Kaghtsrashen, the "Lula LLC" for dairy products in Dalar, and the "Armenian Dried Fruits" plant of Surenavan (since 2007) are the leading firms in this sector.
- The town of Masis has an industrial hub that is home to many large firms. The town is a major centre for tobacco products in Armenia with its two factories: the "Masis Tobacco" company (SINCE 1999) and the "International Masis Tabak" company (since 2002). Other industries of Masis include the "ElektraMachTrade" factory for industrial equipments (since 1979), the "Grand-Master" corrugated cardboard packaging manufacturing ang label printing factory (since 1995), the "Masis Garun" clothing factory (since 1995), the "Berma" plant for asphalt concrete (since 1997), and the "Medical Horizon" factory for drugs and pharmaceuticals (since 2005).
- The town of gold mine in Sotk located 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Lake Sevan.[17] About 0.46 grams of gold is extracted from each ton of sand unearthed at the mines. The extraction process involves first pulverizing the raw material, and then filtering out the gold using a cyanide nitrate chemical process.[17] The soupy byproduct of the cyanide nitrate chemical process is both toxic and radioactive and collects in a tailing dam. There have been numerous incidents of animals dying near and around the plant's area.[17] Also, within the years 2003 and 2008, there have been at least 10 accidents at the plant, some of which have resulted in the discharge of the cyanide soup into neighboring agricultural lands and fisheries, killing off cows and fish stock.[17]
- Other major firms in the province include the "AraratShin" construction company and building materials producers in Ararat (since 1984), the "Manana Stone" plant for building materials in Surenavan (since 1995), the "Vedi Plast" plastic products plant (since 1998) in Vedi, the "Zovashen" company for electrical power plants in Lanjazat (since 2001), the "Abit" Armenian-Russian asphalt factory (since 2009) in Surenavan, the "Izipanel" sandwich panels manufacturing plant in Artashat (since 2012), the "Ararat Group" mineral water factory in Artashat (since 2012), the "Kavashen" plant for building materials in Ararat, and the "Travertine" stone-processing plant in Vedi.
Tourism
The Khor Virap monastery is among the regular tourist destinations in Ararat Province. The ancient settlements of Artaxata and Dvin are among the attractive sites for archaeologists.
The province is home to many protected areas of nature including the Khosrov Forest State Reserve, the Goravan Sands Sanctuary and the Khor Virap Wildlife Sanctuary.
Education
As of the 2015-16 educational year, Ararat Province has 112 schools,[18] out of which 107 are operated by the province administration, while 5 are under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education and Science. As of the end of 2015, the number of the students in the schools of the province is 31,457.[19]
There are many public libraries and cultural houses in the towns of Artashat, Ararat, Masis and Vedi.
However, there are no higher education institutions in the province.
Sport
Araks Ararat founded in 1960 had represented the province in domestic and international football competitions. However, the club was and dissolved in 2001 due to financial difficulties.
At the end of 2001, another football club with the name of
FC Dvin Artashat founded in 1982, was also a prominent football club in the province. The remained in professional football until 1999, before being dissolved like most Armenian football clubs outside the capital Yerevan.
Masis FC played in the domestic completions between 1992 and 1994 when they were also dissolved.
There are 2 stadiums in the province: the Ayg Stadium of Ararat and the Artashat City Stadium. The latter is the regular home of the annual National Athletics Championship of Armenia.
Gallery
-
Capital of Saint Gregory Cathedral, ancient Dvin
-
The remains of Aghjots Vank monastery
-
Mount Kotuts of the Urts mountain range at the centre of the province
-
Ararat from Nor Kyurin village
See also
References
- ^ "Ararat province in Armenia population". www.citypopulation.de/.
- ^ LLC, Helix Consulting. "Government - Regions - The Government of the Republic of Armenia". www.gov.am.
- ^ "Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia".
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ayrarat Encyclopædia Iranica Online
- ^ "Ararat". Jewish Virtual Library. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ Khorozyan, I., Malkhasyan, A. (2002). Ecology of the leopard (Panthera pardus) in Khosrov Reserve, Armenia: implications for conservation. Scientific Reports of the Zoological Society "La Torbiera" 6: 1–41.
- ^ Somakian, Manough Joseph (1992). Tsarist and Bolshevik Policy Towards the Armenian Question 1912-1920 (PDF). London: University of London. p. 311.
- ^ ""Հայաստանի հանրապետության բնակավայրերի բառարան"" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
- ^ "Legislation: National Assemly of RA". www.parliament.am. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ^ "Legislation: National Assemly of RA". www.parliament.am. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ^ "Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей". www.demoscope.ru. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
- ^ "RA Ararat Marz" (PDF). Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures, 2002–2006. National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia. 2007.
- ^ "ԱՐԱՐԱՏԻ ՄԱՐԶ" [Ararat Province]. ՀՀ ՄԱՐԶԵՐԻ ԵՎ ԵՐԵՎԱՆ ՔԱՂԱՔԻ ՍՈՑԻԱԼ-ՏՆՏԵՍԱԿԱՆ ԲՆՈՒԹԱԳՐԵՐԸ [Socio-economic characteristics of the provinces of the Republic of Armenia and the city of Yerevan] (PDF). Yerevan: Statistical Committee of Armenia. 15 November 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Armstat: Ararat" (PDF).
- ^ "R2E2 – Հայաստանի վերականգնվող Էներգետիկայի և էներգախնայողության հիմնադրամ".
- ^ a b c d Behind Gold's Luster Lie Lands Torn Asunder and Urgent Questions Archived 2012-02-17 at the Wayback Machine, Hetq Online, May 19, 2008.
- ^ "Ararat Province schools" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
- ^ "Արարատի մարզի 78 դպրոցները տաքացվում են լոկալ ջեռուցման համակարգով". armenpress.am.